Hemant Soren and Babulal Marandi Clash Over Jharkhand's Rs 1.36 Lakh Crore Claim

Ranchi, Dec 19 (NationPress) Jharkhand's assertion of Rs 1.36 lakh crore from the Central government, related to coal royalties and compensation for mining, has transformed into a political conflict. Over the last four days, a heated exchange of words has unfolded between the ruling and opposition parties regarding this matter. Recently, CM Hemant Soren and BJP state President and former CM Babulal Marandi have clashed on social media concerning this issue.

The controversy intensified when, on December 16, Bihar's Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan (alias Pappu Yadav) questioned Jharkhand's outstanding dues with the Centre during a parliamentary session. He inquired why the Central government was withholding Jharkhand's entitled share of Rs 1.41 lakh crore derived from coal revenues. In response, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary asserted in a written statement that Jharkhand has no outstanding dues.

On December 17, Soren took to social media to address this issue, stating that Jharkhand's demand is legitimate and that the funds are essential for the state's development. He urged Jharkhand's BJP MPs to advocate for this claim.

In response to Soren's remarks, Marandi stated on Thursday that the JMM was making unfounded and misleading claims regarding outstanding dues from the Central government. He challenged the JMM to present any concrete evidence supporting their claim, asking, "What exactly does this amount pertain to? How long has it been pending, and under what conditions is this claim made?"

Marandi directly confronted Soren on social media, stating, "Instead of casting false allegations against the Central government with inaccurate figures, focus on the true challenges facing Jharkhand. This tactic of misleading the public with unsubstantiated claims must cease immediately."

He added, "You may attempt to mask your shortcomings by making baseless accusations against the Central government. The politics of deception will not serve Jharkhand's interests. It is imperative to engage in politics based on truth and evidence."

In his counter, Soren remarked, "Our demand is not unfounded, respected Babulal ji. It is our right, earned through our hard work. Your opposition to the rights of Jharkhand's people is genuinely disheartening. When we needed your support, you stood opposed. Nevertheless, we will secure our rights, as this money belongs to every citizen of Jharkhand."

Soren further elaborated in another post, stating, "We have provided a detailed breakdown of every rupee of this outstanding amount to the Central government multiple times, yet the BJP government's ongoing denial reflects a frustrated attempt to deny our rights. If the Jharkhand BJP does not stand with us on this issue, it will be interpreted as complicity in the usurpation of rights."

Marandi reiterated his queries to Soren, asking, "Directly addressing Hemant Soren's government -- Which years and which schemes does this outstanding amount pertain to? What is the basis for the Rs 1.36 lakh crore figure? How much was recovered during the UPA regime when Shibu Soren was the Coal Minister? Why is there a lack of transparency? Given Jharkhand's history filled with corruption, the public deserves clarity. Present the accurate documents and facts transparently before engaging in dialogue. Jharkhand advocates for every right of its citizens, and we will support you where necessary. However, false figures and fraudulent claims will not be accepted."